Listen to the authority

From all reports, the Occupy Keene Valley event on Sunday did not result in the use of pepper spray.

However, that has not been the case in the rest of the country, where we see videos of police using pepper spray or other force to get people to leave or stop doing what they have been told they cannot do.

In other words, the police are being victimized for doing their jobs.

Why is it that we are only getting one side of the story from these events? Why is it that all we see on the national news are the cell phone videos of people who are inciting the situation now trying to show that they are victims?

The fact of the matter is, the police that have been overseeing occupy events or political protest have gone above and beyond their call, keeping the peace and keeping both the protesters and onlookers safe.

When the powers-that-be say that it is time for the people to leave, then the police have a change of job description. They need to make sure that the decrees of policy makers are upheld. It’s their job.

Now, while there is always a rogue, for the most part, the police have given plenty of warning and then went about clearing areas. The problem happens when those protesting believe that they are bigger than the law and start chanting and causing a problem instead of following rules.

You see, when the police ask you to do something, there are two choices: say yes, and everyone remains happy and all smiles. Or, say no, and someone could be getting pepper sprayed or even tazed.

Now, for something completely different.

At one of the regional games I attended this year, there were a couple of fans who were making a little noise because they disagreed with a referee’s call.

Keith Lobdell is the editor of the Valley News. He can be reached at keith@denpubs.com.